Basics of research paper writing and publishing

Publishing research results is an integral part of a researcher's professional life. However, writing is not every researcher's favourite activity, and getting a paper published can be a very tedious and time–consuming process. Fortunately, many of the obstacles along the writing and publishing path can be avoided by following some simple guidelines and practices. This paper presents a synthesis of guidelines found in literature about structuring and writing scientific papers. The paper outlines the process of publishing research papers in journals and conference proceedings, aiming to provide early–stage researchers with a handy introduction to essential issues. The paper takes an interdisciplinary stance by giving examples from technology–enhanced learning research and borrowing from literature in social, natural and computing sciences.